By Andrew Tyoh
The Bauchi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) have strengthened their partnership to harness the state’s abundant raw materials resources and accelerate industrial development, investment promotion, and economic diversification.
The collaboration was reaffirmed during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Bauchi recently, where government officials and development partners discussed strategies for sustainable industrialisation and value-added production.
A major focus of the meeting was the need to move away from the export of raw commodities and embrace local processing and manufacturing as a means of maximizing economic benefits from the state’s agricultural and solid mineral resources.
The Permanent Secretary of the Bauchi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Yakubu Bello, described the partnership with RMRDC as a strategic step toward achieving sustainable economic development and improving the state’s industrial capacity.
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According to him, effective collaboration among government institutions and development partners is essential for economic transformation.
“Our goal is to address the challenges affecting commerce and industry in Bauchi State. Through our partnership with RMRDC, we intend to stimulate investment, strengthen local manufacturing, and create opportunities for entrepreneurship and job creation,” Bello stated.
In his remarks, the Director of Commerce, Alhaji Muhammad Kawuji, stressed the need to tackle structural barriers limiting the growth of local enterprises and industries.
“Identifying priority economic sectors is only the beginning. We must take concrete steps to improve processing capacity, expand access to credit, and support SMEs in adopting modern technologies. Through this partnership with RMRDC, we aim to promote value addition and transform existing challenges into opportunities for industrial and commercial growth,” he said.
Speaking at the meeting, the Bauchi State Coordinator of RMRDC, Mr. Turaki Wambai, emphasized the importance of raw materials development in achieving sustainable industrial growth.
“Raw materials development remains the backbone of industrialization. No economy can achieve sustainable growth by merely exporting its raw resources. RMRDC is committed to supporting Bauchi State through technical expertise, research collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives that will promote local processing and efficient utilization of available resources,” he said.
Participants at the meeting identified several factors hindering industrial growth in the state, including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and low levels of technology adoption among local producers.
Stakeholders agreed that agro-processing and solid minerals development should remain key priorities due to their potential to generate employment, attract investment, increase internally generated revenue, and stimulate economic growth across the state.
The partnership is expected to encourage greater investment in value-added industries, enhance the competitiveness of local producers, and ensure more effective utilization of the state’s vast natural resources for long-term economic prosperity
The meeting ended with a collective commitment to deepen collaboration and implement initiatives that will strengthen local industries, empower entrepreneurs, and position Bauchi State as a leading destination for industrial investment.
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